As we celebrate the Feast of Transfiguration of our Lord, the Malankara Orthodox Church also commemorates the holy father- His Grace Alexios Mar Theodosius Metropolitan, the champion of Orthodoxy, who like the apostle(s)- St John, epitomized purity of heart; like St Peter, was zealous in his convictions; and like St James exemplified moral courage.
One
of the common sayings of Mar Theodosius Thirumeni was-
“Only a converted
man can convert another man; Only a converted church can convert the world”. *
The
great Feast of Transfiguration commemorates the event of Christ’s appearance
becoming glorious and radiant as He prayed at Mount Tabor with His disciples
Peter, James, and John. There appeared Elijah and Moses, speaking with Jesus
and the disciples heard a voice from the cloud- “This is My beloved Son. Hear
Him!” After this awe-inspiring event, Jesus Christ and His disciples come down
from the mountain and continued with healing ministry. In this context, the
saying of Mar Theodosius Thirumeni is of great importance and learning. To be
converted simply doesn’t mean updating the ‘religion’ section in the govt
forms/IDs. The calling to the summit of the mountain is not merely to
acknowledge Christ’s presence. The conversion, more than a literal physical
meaning, implies the transformation of our hearts to be receptive to Christ’s
Love and to share that love with others at the foothill.
BIRTH/EARLY
LIFE
Mar
Theodosius was born on August 28, 1888 as Chandy/M.M. Alexander in the
traditionally priestly family of Mattackal at Niranam to parents Mathai and
Kunjadamma. He had his school education at Mar Gregorios Memorial High School,
Tiruvalla and Mar Dionysius High School, Kottayam and College education
(1912-15) in the Church Missionary Society College at Kottayam.
At
the age of 19, the young Alexander was called to serve in the Lord’s vineyard
and received diaconate ordination from His Beatitude Joseph Mar Dionysius V
(Pulikkotil II) Thirumeni. Dn Alexander joined Barisol Divinity College in East
Bengal in 1915 and later in 1918 Serampore, for theological studies. In 1918,
Dn. Alexander was ordained a priest by His Grace Yuyakim Mar Ivanios
Metropolitan at Parumala Seminary and was called Fr. Alexios.
MEETING
FR. P. T. GEEVARGHESE
It
was in Serampore, that Fr. Alexios came in contact with Fr.
P. T. Geevarghese (later Mar Ivanios of Syro-Malankara faction). Their
focus was on starting a monastic movement which was well received among the
Church dignitaries. On their return from Serampore in 1918. they established a
unique monastery named Bethany and a monastic order at Mundanmala, a hilly
forest area at Perunadu near Ranny on a hundred-acre plot donated by E.J. John.
Over
the years, Bethany Monastery grew in stature but received a catastrophic blow
when Fr. P. T. Geevarghese, its Superior, defected to the Roman faith taking
with him a number of inmates on September 20,1930. It seemed that everything
which Bethany stood for was lost. Fr Alexios rising up to the occasion like a
flaming tower, gave Bethany a new life and led it from success to success.
Today, Bethany has a complex of institutions- monastery, convent, schools and
hospitals.
METROPOLITAN
Fr.
Alexios was raised to the office of Episcopate on April 7, 1938 by His Holiness
Baselios Geevarghese II Bava Thirumeni at Carmel Dayara, Mulanthuruthy, and took the name Mar Theodosius. Diocese
of Kollam and the Outside Kerala Diocese were assigned to the Metropolitan’s
charge. Mar Theodosius had the foresight and vision of the future development
possibilities of the Church beyond the frontiers of Kerala. In fact, Mar
Theodosios Thirumeni was the architect of the Outside Kerala Diocese. In 1947, a nucleus
of the Diocese was laid when the Metropolitan formed the Indian Orthodox
Mission at Madras. This was followed by organising a group of four dedicated
priests viz Fr. K. A. George, Fr. C.V. John, Fr. Simon Mathews and Fr. K.C.
Thomas (later His Grace Thomas Mar Makarios Metropolitan of blessed memory),
who were sent to Pune, Calcutta, Coonnor and Delhi respectively.
INTERNATIONAL
FORUMS
Mar
Theodosius Thirumeni took keen interest in representing the Malankara Orthodox Church in
international inter-church forums and focus the attention of Western Churches
to the ancient apostolic origin of Malankara Church. He travelled to London
in 1933 to attend the Centenary Celebrations of Oxford Movement, to Oxford in
1937 to represent the Malankara Orthodox Church in the first Faith and Order
Conference and to Edinburgh the same year to attend the Life and Work
Conference, and in 1948 to Amsterdam to participate in the World Council of Churches (WCC) Conference along
with His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II Bava Thirumeni. Till 1953, Mar Theodosius Thirumeni was a member of the Central Committee of WCC.
The
ardent stress on conviction of faith and on the autocephalous nature of
Malankara Orthodox Church was a distinguishing trait in Mar Theodosius Thirumeni. He
stood firm in his mother church even when his overwhelming mentor- Fr. P. T. Geevarghese (Mar Ivanios) left the
mother church. He is quoted to have said “Even if it happens that I become the
old lay man Chandy, I do not like to be a Metropolitan of a Church which has
lost its freedom.”
HEAVENLY ABODE
On August 6, 1965, after battling prolonged illness, coinciding the day when the Church celebrates the Feast of Transfiguration, this great luminary of the Malankara Orthodox Church left for heavenly abode.
Mar
Theodosius Thirumeni was an austere ascetic and a good shepherd who led a simple life
devoted to prayer and worship. His simplicity, asceticism, conviction of faith,
love, care and concern have inspired many.
May
the prayers and intercessions of the holy father be our refuge always.
In Christ,
Rincy John
Ref:
David Daniel, The Orthodox Church of India (History), © 1986, Published by
Rachel David, New Delhi, Pgs 530-534.
*Quote
of Theodosius Thirumeni referred from Bethany Asramam website-http://bethanyasramam.com/inspirers.php
(accessed 05 August 2020)
